A relay may complicate the above picture slightly. But if server Y in the above example is an isolated #GlobalSouth instance, or if it is running software (such as Hubzilla) not based on #ActivityPub, then the relay will most likely not be pulling posts from there, so the example will still hold.

In this context, remember many instances do not add relays because the additional posts pulled in through the relay increase the storage and processing costs.

(continues)

Content Warning

Generalize mastodon.social in the above example to all mainstream, primarily #GlobalNorth, #Mastodon servers. No user on any of those servers will ever become aware of user X’s post containing #Namibia, even if some of them consciously search for the term.

(continues)

Content Warning

🧵 on how #Mastodon, and the rest of the #Fediverse, invisiblize the #GlobalSouth.

I have argued a few times that for all practical purposes, the global south does not exist for Mastodon, and for the rest of the Fediverse. But many people I interact with do not quite understand how this works in practice.

This series of posts is an effort to illustrate that mechanism.

(continues)

Content Warning

That’s it, that’s the mechanism.

Forget #GlobalNorth users, even #GlobalSouth users cannot find fellow users from their regions, or find posts about the global south, even if both exist.

This happens with most global south users, and with an overwhelming majority of the posts on global south topics.

That’s how #Mastodon, and the rest of the #Fediverse, invisiblize the global south.

(continues)

Content Warning

So you want to fight fascism and make a difference right now? Do this:

Join Codeberg e.V. – become part of the organisation; part of the resistance – and actively support this valuable and ethical EU-based anti-fascist¹ git hosting alternative that’s under attack by fascists as we speak:

https://join.codeberg.org

Seriously, do it now.²

Volunteer and/or donate if you can.

Let’s send Codeberg’s membership through the roof and show these fucking fascists that when they push we push back twice as hard.

When you do, please add your voice to this thread so others can see.

I rarely ask this but please repost this far and wide.

¹ https://blog.codeberg.org/we-stay-strong-against-hate-and-hatred.html

² If you’re having trouble reaching the server, it might also be under attack. You can check the current status of all Codeberg’s servers from https://status.codeberg.org/status/codeberg

#Codeberg#CodebergUnderAttack#SupportCodeberg #antifascist#EU #european#FOSS#freeSoftware #git #hosting #fediverse #mastodon #community#callToAction

Content Warning

📢 (1/3) A quick announcement 😊 !

I decided to move servers with this #diningcar account from the big instance "mastodon.social" to "rail.chat".

I did this because, I think the re-centralization is bad. As people join #Mastodon, there’s a natural tendency to join over-sized servers that don’t fit well with the original design of Mastodon and can lead to problems.

This account is a railway-enthusiastic account. I share pictures from trips with dining cars (mainly from Europe, where I live!)

Content Warning

When you're helping folks move to #Mastodon, please also help them see that mastodon.social is a big island, but not the only island, and unfortunately a very problematic source of spam and abuse due to poor moderation (lots of us are currently dealing with fresh waves of ick originating there).

Many, many smaller instances have blocked it for very good reasons.

Please talk up the smaller, well-connected communities working hard to provide safe and friendly spaces. :)